Marking attachment for circular hosiery knitting machines



March 25, 1958 P. A. MAHLER 2,327,780

MARKING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR HOSIERT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mun mu v llllllllll I March 25, 1958 P. .A. MAHLER MARKING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1956 4 Sheets Sheet 2 I Y El? F550 37/977017 770.

March 25, 1958 P. A. MAHLIER MARKING ATTACHMENT FORCIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. s, 1956 4 Shet-Sheet 5 J P/WAWM March 25, 1958 P. A. MAHLER 2,827,780

HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINES MARKING ATTACHMENT FOR CIRCULAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 8, 1956 United States Patent 2,827,780 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 MARKING ATTACHIVENT FOR CIRCULAR HOSHERY KNITTING MACHINES Peter A. Mahler, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., 21 corporation of Pennsylvania Application ()ctober 8, 1956, Serial No. 614,511

16 Claims. (CI. 66-40) This invention relates to an improvement in circular hosiery knitting machines and more particularly to an improved device for marking the knitted product by means of tuck stitches to indicate size or as a position guide or for other purpose.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a marking device of the stated character which will utilize existing mechanisms and will be in the nature of an attachment leaving the said existing mechanisms substantially unmodified.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a marking device of the character set forth having adjustable means for regulating the length' of the tuck stitch as required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking device adapted for use on circular knitting machines of the dual yarn feed type.

A still further object'of the invention is to provide a marking attachment of the character described that may be adapted for use in machines having dual yarn feed provision and which may be used selectively in such machines by simple adjustment for either single or double feed operation.

The invention contemplates also that the marking device be of a character such that it may be applied in part to a single feed machine with provision for incorporation of the additional parts necessary for dual feed operation in event that the machine may subsequently be converted to dual feed operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side View of a stocking having tuck stitch markings of the character to which the invention relates;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face view of a marked area of the stocking shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the stitches of the stocking and the nature of the tuck stitches formed by the device of the invention in a stocking knit on a dual feed machine;

Fig. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view in perspective of a machine equipped with mechanism in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary development of the needle actuating cams of the machine including those constituting elements of the marking device of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an axial fragmentary sectional view of the needle cylinder illustrating one of the marking cams of the present invention in tuck stitch forming position with relation to the needles of the cylinder;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View showing the details of the actuating means for the cams which constitute elements of the mechanism for actuating the needles at the second yarn feed station in a dual feed machine;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the actuator for the tuck cam forming an element of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the actuator for the stitch cam forming an element of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11, Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12, Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing in elevation the reverse side or certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a rear elevational view as seen from the left hand side of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 1616, Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing the elements of mechanism therein illustrated in a different operative position, and

Fig. 18 is an exploded View in perspective of a section of the pattern chain.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the cylinder of a circular knitting machine, the operations of which are determined by a pattern cylinder 2 under control of a pattern chain 3. The chain 3 is traversed in step-by-step or intermittent movement through the medium of a sprocket 4 and associated ratchet wheel 5 and by pawl mechanism hereinafter described, and this traverse movement of the chain is geared to the rotary movement of the cylinder 1 so that the chain advances in timed relation to the movement of the cylinder. in the present instance, it may be considered that a traverse movement of the chain occurs at each fourth revolution of the cylinder. It may be noted also that each traverse movement of the chain advances the latter to an extent corresponding to one-third of the length of one of the links and the functional aspect of this relationship will be hereinafter described. The rotary traverse movement of the drum 2 is intermittent and is effected through devices separate from the chain traversing means and includes an annular ratchet 6 on the drum and an associated pawl 7 shown in Figs. 14 and 15 which also show the pawl 8 which coacts with the ratchet wheel 5 to traverse the chain. The mode of operation in this portion of the device is essentially the same as that shown in United States Patent 2,422,568.

The pawls 7 and 8 are secured to a common rock shaft 9 which is geared to the cylinder drive mechanism so that the movements of the pattern chain and cylinder are relatively timed as described above. The pawl 7 is retractable from the ratchet 6 to an inoperative position by means of a lever arm 11 which is attached to a shaft 12, and this shaft carries a second lever arm 13 mounting a finger 14 which engages cams 15, 15 on the chain 3. When, as shown in Fig. 15, the finger 14 is not engaged by one of the high earns 15 of the chain, the shaft 12 will occupy a position wherein the arm 11 by engagement with a pin 16 on the pawl 7 will hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet 6. Under these conditions the rocking movement of the shaft 9 will have no effect upon the cam drum 2 so that while the pawl 8 intermittently traverses the pattern chain 3, the drum remains stationary. When, however, one of the high'carns 15 engages the finger 14 and elevates the arm 13 to rockshaft 12, the arm 11 will be retracted and will permit the pawl 7 to move into operative engagement with the ratchet 6. During the periods wherein the chain earns 15 act in this manner to retract the arm 11, the rocking movements of the shaft 9 will effect an intermittent rotation of the cam drum 2 as well as of the chain 3. The

3 p operate in Conventional manner. Assuming that the cylinder is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, itwill be necessary in order-to form a conventional tuck stitch to manipulate the needles so that they, avoidthe cam 18 which in normal knitting functions to elevatethe needles .to a position where the loop carried thereby clears the lower .end of the depending latch. The normal path of the needles in knitting a plain fabric is indicated by 'the'reference numeral 19, it being noted that this path carries the needle against the inclined side ofthe path .18 which then functions to elevate the needle to the extent required for the loopto clear the latch. The needle following this path will then be directed downwardly at the inside'of the cam 17 to cast the aforesaid loop and to form a new and intersecting loop from yarn 'bed to the needle while in the elevated position. A needle :manipulated to avoid-the cam 18 in accordance with the invention will follow a path indicated" by the reference numeral 21 will not cast the original loop and will'thereby form a composite loop which isnot cast from the needle until .a subsequent elevation of the needle by the cam 18 'or1its'equivalent. In order. to manipulate a needle to form'a tuck stitch in accordance with the present invention, I provide a cam 22 which in plain knitting will direct a "the needles, previously depressed by a cam 23, into the path 19 and-which may be adjusted to a position clearing thebutts of those selected needles which are to produce tuck 'stitchesin the fabric.

The manner in which the cam 22 so acts is best illus- "trated'in Figs. 6 and 7. This cam is mounted at the end of a rod 24"whichis slidably supported in the frame 25 of the'machine and which isheld against angular displacement about its longitudinal axis by an intersecting pin'26 which projects at the underside of the bar into'a guide slot '27 andwhich projects at the top of the bar, as indicated at 28, into a cam slot 31 of a cam actuator 29, said actuator, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, being mounted for longitudinal adjustment in the frame 25. Byreason of the form of the slot 31, longitudinal movements of the actuator 29 will effect a longitudinal adjustment of the rod 24 and a consequent adjustment of the cam 22 radially of the cylinder 1 and with 'respect to the butts of the needles carried in the latter.

7 'As shown in Fig. 7, these needlesare in two primary "groups designated .32 and '33 respectively which differ as to butt length, the needles 33 having relatively long butts 34 as compared with the shorter butts 35 of the needles 32. interspersed with the needles 32 are the particular needles which produce the desired tuck stitches. These needles are identified in Fig. 7 by the reference numeral In the present instance they are three in number and are specifically located in the cylinder to produce the tuck stitches at desired points on the circumference of the stocking. These needles 36 are distinguished from the needles 32 and 33 by their exceptionally short butts 37, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The cam 22 is adjustable between alternative-positions in one of which it-is completelyv retracted from all of the needles, so that it has no effect upon the knitting operation, and a second position in which it is inserted'to a' maximum extent for engagement With'the butts of all of the needles including those of the needles 36. In a third position, it is retracted from the fully inserted position to the intermediate position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein as the cylinder rotates it 'will engage the butts of all the needles except those of' the needles 36 and the latter needles as described above 'Will' then be permitted to follow the path 21 (see Fig. and

position in which it is inactive with respect to any of i the needles. As the actuator is moved from this position, the pin 28 will move into the offset section 39 of the slot and the cam will be advanced into a position for engagement with the relatively long butts of the needles 33, this advance movement being effected while the shorter butt needles 32 are opposite the cam position. While in engagement with the needles '33, a further or continued advance of the actuator will bring the pin 28 into the still further oifset section 41 of the slot and will advance the cam into a fully inserted position in which it will lie in the path of the butts of the needles 32 and 36 as well as of the needles 33 so that when'the cylinder rotates all of the needles, first depressed by the cam 23, will be immediately again elevated by action of the cam 22 to follow the normal course 19 described above.

In any particular course in which tuck stitches are desired, the cam, by a further movement of the actuator29 bringing the pin '28'into the end section 42 of the slot 31,

will be again retractedbut only to an extent clearing the butts of the needles 36 so that in that course of knitting, the needles 36 will notc'ast their loops and will produce tuck stitches in accordance with conventional principle;

In the present instance, three tuck stitches will be produced in a single course by action of the three needles '36. In Figs. 1 and 2, tuck stitches indicated by the cross marks are shown in three series of three such stitches, each series occupying a difierent course. The location ofthe tuck stitch producing needles 36 in this case is such that the needle stitches of each series lies on a longitudinal line at the exact rear center of the stocking, this line being indicated by the reference numeral 43. The six tuck stitches arranged in this manner may function in accordance with a pre-conceived code to indicate the size of the stocking and also as a gut e for an operator folding or boarding the stocking to enable her to locate the fold or board edge accurately along the rear center line of the'sto'cking. V g

-It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that two additional: rows of tuck stitches indicated by crosses are located at the termined end of the heel pocket and in advance of the toe pocket, and these tuck stitches may also constitute a guide for the operator in folding or boarding the'stocking. V

The cam 23 is a conventional needle depressingcam adjustable individually'and having functions in. addition to those with which the present invention is concerned.

In the practice of the invention the cam 23 will be fully sidered fixed.

The manner in which the actuator 29 is operated is well illustrated in Fig. 4. The actuator is connected through links 44 and 45 'to the upper end of an arm 46 of a'bell crank lever mounted on a transverse shaft 47 The other or lower end of in the frame of the machine. this 'bell crank lever, constituted by an arm 48, extends downwardly into cooperative relation with the pattern drum 2. A spring'49 tends to retain the lever 46, 48 in a position wherein the actuator 29 has been adjustedto bring the pin 28 into the terminal end 38 of the slot 31.

As previously indicated, in this position of the actuator 29 the'carn 22 will'be .fullyr'etracted and will be inoperative with respect to the needles. 'When, however, by reason of rotation of the pattern drum 2 a cam lug 51 on the drum is brought into engagement with the lower ter minal'end of the arm 48, the lever will be rocked counterclockwise as viewed in' the drawings so as to shift the the resulting movement of the cam 22 will be initiated I while the needles 32 are opposite the 'cam- 22 and 'will be continued after engagement of the needles 33 with-the '5 cam so that as the needles 35 and 36 move into cam en gaging position, the cam will occupy the extreme inserted position in which it operates on the butts of all of the needles. This does not afiect the normal knitting operation but in efiect conditions the cam 22 for subsequent adjustment into the tuck stitch forming position.

The actual adjustment of the cam 29 to move it from the conditioned to the tuck stitch forming position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is effected by the pattern chain acting through a system of links and levers connected to the terminal end of a link 52 attached to the lever arm 46. The terminal end of this link 52 is slotted, as indicated at 53, and the slot receives a pin 54 on the upper end of an arm 55 attached to a rock shaft 56 in the frame. The slot and pin connection provides for lost motion between the link 52 and the arm 55 for a purpose hereinafter described. At its opposite end the shaft 56 carries a second arm 57 having a transversely extending pin 58 at its upper end. This pin is positioned for operative engagement by the upper bevelled end of a saber cam 59 which is guided in a slot 61 in the frame immediately below the pin 58 and whose lower end is 'adjustably secured at 62 to an arm 63, this arm being pivotally attached to a pin 64 which projects transversely from one arm 65 of a bell crank lever 66 secured to the rock shaft 9. The other end of this lever (not shown) is operatively connected to the cylinder drive mechanism for oscillation in timed relation with the cylinder rotation. The pin 64 also provides a pivotal mount for the drum pawl 7 so that in efie-ct this pawl is mounted on the arm 65 of the bell crank 66. The pattern chain pawl 8 is similarly pivotally mounted on a pin 69 projecting transversely from another arm 67 or" the bell crank 66. As the shaft 9 is rocked in timed relation with the cylinder the pawl 8 efiects the intermittent traverse movement of the pattern chain 3, and the saber cam 59 is simultaneously vertically reciprocated in the slot 61.

Normally the arm 57 will occupy the position in which it is shown in Figs. 4 and 16, and in this position the pin 58 will lie out of the normal path of reciprocation of the cam 59, as illustrated in Fig. 16. In other Words, the slot 61 is sufliiciently long to permit the cam to reciprocate in a path clearing the pin 53. This normal path of reciprocation of the cam 59 is established by the action of one arm 68 of a bell crank 6%, see Fig. The other arm 71 of the lever 69 extends into operative position with respect to the chain 3. Actually, the arm 71 does not engage e chain itself, but its outer terminal end lies in the path of pins 72 and lugs 73 projecting transversely from a side of the chain, the pins 72 being secured in the hollow pintles or" the chain and the lugs 73 in the present instance being integral frangible projections from the side of the chain links. A spring 74 tends to retain the arm 71 in a depressed position in the paths of the pins and lugs as the chain is traversed and in this depressed position, a transverse extension 75 of the arm 68 engages the curved confronting edge of the arm 63 and holds that arm in a retracted position against the pull of a spring 76 which tends to draw it to the right as viewed in Fig. 15. This position of the arm 63 corresponds to the positions of saber cam 59 shown in Fig. 16 in which as previously set forth the reciprocatory path of the cam lies at one side of the normal position of the pin 53 of the arm 57. Under these circumstances reciprocation of the cam 59 can have no effect upon the position of the arm 57.

When, however, the terminal end of the lever 71 is engaged by one of the pins 72 or a lug 73, the arm 71 will be elevated thereby retracting the arm 68 and its extension 75 and permitting the lever 63 to move to the right as viewed in Fig. under the pull of the spring 76. The cam 59 will then assume the positions shown in Fig. 17 wherein upward movement of the cam will bring its bevelled upper end in camming engagement with the pin 58 as illustrated in Fig. 17 and will in its continued upward movement displace the arm 57 to the left and into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 17. This displacement of the arm 57 rocks the shaft 56 and with it, the 7 arm 55 to an extent such that the link 52 is moved sufiiciently to retract the cam 29 to the tuck stitch forming position in which the cam 22 will occupy the intermediate position.

It will be noted that the pins 72 and lugs 73 are spaced relatively to each other to an extent corresponding to each traverse movement of the pattern chain and that the parts are so relatively arranged that each traverse movement is terminated in a position such that the terminal end of the lever 71 will be directly over one of the pins 72 or one of the lugs 73, assuming of course that the particular link then underlying the arm 71 carries such pin or lug. In the absence of a pin or lug, therefore, the arm 71 will retain its normal depressed position so that the formation of a tuck stitch is directly dependent upon the presence or absence of a pin 72 or lug 73 in a position to engage the arm 71 at the terminus of any individual traverse movement of the chain. It will be noted also that the lost motion connection between the arm 55 and link 52 provides for adjustment of the actuator 29 by the arm 46 independently of the arm 55.

it will be noted by reference more particularly to Fig. 15 that the adjustability of the saber cam 59 on the arm 63 provides for adjustment of the cam into positions wherein at the beginning of any working or upstroke of the cam, the upper bevelled end thereof is more or less distant from the pin 58. If at the initiation of the working stroke the inclined end of the cam is close to the pin, the shifting of the arm 57 will occur at the begin ning of the working stroke and consequently, the dwell of the lever 57 in the displaced position shown in Fig. 17 will be relatively long, extending over a relatively great part of the reciprocatory movement of the cam. In this case, therefore, the dwell of the tuck cam 22 in the tuck stitch forming position will be correspondingly long, and will extend over a relatively long period of cylinder rotation. If, on the other hand, the bevelled upper end of the cam 59 lies relatively remote from or far below the pin 53 at the initiation of the working stroke of the cam, the actual displacement of the arm 57 by the cam will occur relatively late in the working stroke and the dwell of the arm 57 in displaced position will be relatively short in terms of the total reciprocatory movement of the cam. Similarly, in this instance, the dwell of the cam 22 in the tuck stitch forming position will be relatively short in relation to the rotary movement of the cylinder. One of the functional purposes of this device will be described below.

In adapting this tuck stitch forming device for dual feed operation, I may provide the additional needle cams shown to the right in Fig. 5, these cams being placed in angularly spaced relation with respect to the cams 17 and 18. The cam 81 is a conventional stitch cam designed to depress the needles moving in the direction indicated by the arrows subsequent to the feeding of the yarn to the needles at the indicated adjoining station so as to form the loops of the knitted fabric. The cam 81 corresponds essentially to the cam 17 previously described. The cam 82 is a clearing cam having the function of elevating the needles in advance of the stitch cam 81 to receive the yarn at the yarn feed station and to move the needle to a position sufiiciently elevated that the previously applied loop or loops may clear the lower end of the latch for casting off by subsequent depression of the needle by cam 81. The cam 82 is formed, however, so that in an intermediate position of adjustment, corresponding to the intermediate position of the cam 22 previously described, the cam will have moved out of the path of the previously selected tuck stitch needles having the short butts 37, that is to say, the short butt needles 36 previously described. When, therefore, the cam 82 is in the fully inserted position, all of the estates Heb-elevated ff orf'rceptionpf yam and to clear the earried loops with respect the latch so that subsequenf depression by the cam 81' will "cast the loops ina'ccofdance with cEonveiitiQn'al process in pr'oducing a plain kiiit fabric. lwhenthe cam" 82 occupies the interme'diate position, the needles 36will not be elevated :to the extent that the contained loops clear the *latches so that subsequent depression' willnot result in casting of the loops'but' in" retention thereof by the"-needles with subsequent resulting formation of tuck stitches as well understood in'the art. v

Asin the case of the"'tuck stiteh-forming cams previously described, provision is made for retracting the cam -'81 and" 82*entirely from the needle cylinders '50 that they'are'inoperative with' respect to' the needles. Fronfthisfully" retracted position, the cams will be adjusted' sirrniltaneously'and inaccordance with the principles 'pr'e'viously described to a fully inserted position 'in which; all of theneedles are fully elevated by the cam '82 and -so that theloo'ps will clear the latches. From 7 this fullyinserted position, provision is made "for adjusb ing the cam 82 only to an intermediatelposition in which it is inoper'ative' with respect to the needles 36' so that tuck stitches may be produced by' those needles 'in accordancewith the principlepreviously set forth.

Themechanism for accomplishing these adjustments of the -'cams consists in part of a compound "lever indicated-generally bythe reference numeral 83, this "lever being -pivot'ally mounted on a' shaft 84"wl1ich also providesa pivotalsup'p'ort "for "the previously mentioned 1ever 69. rheie'ver 83 comprises two relatively movable parts "of whichone, designated by the reference numeral 85 isiri'the form of an inverted stirrup, the opposite ends of which are pivotally 'eng a'fged with the shaft'84. The second and relativelymovable element of "thelever consists er an"a 1fm 86 also'pivotally supported on the shaft 84"and normally retained' in alignment with the stirrup 85,"as shown inFig. l3,bymeans*of a ispring 87 which draws-firearm 86'against apin' 88 projecting from 'a lug 89-o1i"-'the stirrup. The stirrup element 84'has' a projecting'arm" 91"wh'ich eXtends in operative relation to the surface fof the panemdium 2. When the arm '91f'is' engaged by a drum cam, such as the cam 92, the lever 85 willbemovedfto'the right 'as viewed in Fig. 13; and when the arm 91' leaves *the cam 92,' the arm 85 will moveto' the 'left' -under thef action of a spring 93. When the element 85*i's' shifted, by the cam 92, the pin 88 acting-onthe element 86 w'ill'car1'y that element to the rightlw'ith theelenient '85jsoithat the relative positions of the'eleme rits remainunchanged. The arm 86, how ever, is free to move further'to the right and away from the fpin 88 against'the pull of the spring 87 under circumstances described below.

The aim-sass connected by sink 9:; toi'ari 'arni 90' on the 'shaft"-56. The'conn'ection'of the link with the arm8 6 "is by way of a pin whichpasses through a slot 96 in the "link 'thereby afiordinga certain lost motion between-the arm 86"a nd the arrn90. When the composite le'ver', 85;86 iis in the normal position, the arm' 91; being free-of an of "thejfe'arns 92 of' the drum 2, the pinf95 will-occupy the left "hand end of the slot 96 asviewedin Fig. 13 ,"soithat theslot 96in effect provides for the"'moveriient of the lever 85, 86'byfaction of the drum 'c am' 92'w'jithout afiectingthe position ofthe arm'90.

The lever element 85 is eonnected by a'link 97 with a cam sensor-"'98 ot the general character of the actuator 29"previously:described. actuator takes the form of aneloiigated plate slidablyfrnounted ioriongitudinal adjustment, in a block 99in the frame. The plate carries a cam sl ot l fl l' ot thegeiierahcharacter of the cam slot 31 of-the'pi'eviouslydescribed actuator 29. By way in pai'tfof a *pin" 102 which'projectsinto the slot 101, the

actuator '98"is 'opera'tively eonneeted with the "cam 81,

' which cam is mounted in "the frame in the same manner asith' 22 previously described, and being adjustable spect to 'the needle cylinder.

r The leverelement 86"is operatively connectedxby' 'a' link 103 with a 'cam' actuator 104 which is slidably supp'orted'in the block 99immediately above the actuator 98 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The actuatr'104 has 7 a cam slot 105 corresponding substantially to the slot 31 of the actuator 29 previously described and this slot receives a pin 106 which provides an operative connection between the actuator 104 and the cam 82 'p're viously described. It'will be noted that the actuator 98 is apertured at 107 so as to afiord passage therethrough for the pin 106 which from the cam groove 105 of the actuator 104, extends downwardly through the aperture 107 of the actuator 98 andinto the body of the 'camf82 as shown in Fig.-.12. 1

In the drawings, the lever 83 is shown retractedby action of the drum 'cam 92, and'the actuatorsl98 and 104 as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, occupycorrespondin'g positions resulting from this retraction of the layer. "In.

these positions, the actuators have advanced the cams'81 and '82 to a fully inserted position in which they operate on all of the needlesof the cylinderincluding theextra short butt needles 36. 'The actuator 98 occupies an extreme position in which the pin 102 .lies at the terminal endof the cam slot 101; but the actuator 104 cccupies an intermediate position in which an additional retraction of the actuator will result in a withdrawal of the cam 82 from the fully inserted to an intermediate position in which it operates on all of the needles of the cylinder with exception of the needles 36. In this intermediate position, the cam is effective to prevent the casting of the loopsfrom the needles 36 for the production of the desired tuck stitches. actuator 104 from the position in which it is shown in Figs. 8 and'9 to a position'wherein the cam 82 is moved to the intermediate position is effected bya movement of the lever independently of its companion element 85 away from the pin 88. and against the pull of the spring 87 by rocking of the shaft 56 and resultant angular movement of the arm 95. It will be noted that this rocking movement of the shaft 56 also effects a corresponding adjustment of the actuator 29 to move the cam 22 ,into the intermediate or tuck stitch forming position, so that in this respect. the movements of the cams 82 and 22' will move to the left as viewed'in Fig. 13, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby adjusting the actuators '98 and 104 so that the 'pins 102 and 106 will lie at the opposite ends of the respective cam slots with resulting retraction of the cams in the manner previously described inconnection with the actuator 29 and cam 22.

'Sueh retraction of the earns 81 and 82 may be independent of the cam 22. v

Fig. 3. shows a character of tuck stitch produced bythe device of the present invention in dual feed operation. In this fabric the yarn forming the respective courses are fed successively to the needles from yarn feed station 1 associated with the cams 17 and 18 and yarn feed station 2 associated with the, cams 81 and 82,

' see Fig. 5. In Fig. 3, these yarns are designated x and y successively without casting a loop. As previouslys'et "forth, the shaft 9 isgivenonecomplete oscillation 'for This adjustment ofthe every four complete rotations of the cylinder 1. Each full reciprocation of the saber cam 59 will therefore also embrace four revolutions of the cylinder, and the working stroke of the cam, i. e. the upward movement of the cam, will occur during two revolutions of the cylinder. It will be apparent that if the cam 59 at the beginning of the working stroke has been adjusted so that the upper end thereof lies in immediate proximity to the pin 58, the dwell of the cams in the tucking position will correspond to a certain substantial part of four revolutions of the cylinder, and in order to reduce this dwell, it will be necessary to adjust the cam so that at the beginning of the working stroke the upper end thereof lies relatively remote to the pin 58.

In performance of the machine in single feed operation, the opposite condition will prevail. In that case in order to form the tuck stitch illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be necessary that the tucking needles pass twice through the yarn feed station 1 without casting a stitch.

Under these circumstances the dwell of the cams 22 and 82 will be relatively long, and in order to obtain this relatively protracted dwell the cam 59 is adjusted to a position wherein the upper end at the beginning of the working stroke will lie in relative proximity to the pin 58. It will be apparent that this adjustability of the cam 58 affords a certain flexibility also in the character of the tuck stitch, particularly in single feed operations. The device makes possible the use of the marking mechanism selectively for both single feed and dual feed operation, the change from dual to single feed requiring only disconnection in any desired manner of cams 81 and 82, and of the associated yarn feed, from their operating mechanisms, and adjustment of the cam 59 as described.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder including selectively placed needles of relatively short butt length and other needles having longer butts, means for actuating the needles including those having the said short butts to produce the knitted machine product, said means including a clearing cam, means for diverting the said short butt needles from said clearing cam to form individual tuck stitches, said means including a needle depressing cam operative on all the needles and a following needle elevating cam adjustable selectively between alternative positions in one of which positions the cam operates to elevate the needles of both short and longer butt length and in the other of which positions the cam clears the said short butts and operates only on the needles of longer butt length, mechanism for so adjusting the last named cam including adjustable means for regulating the dwell of the cam in the last named operative position with reference to cylinder rotation, mechanism for further adjusting the said elevating cam between the first named of said alternative operative positions and a third position in which the cam is retracted and inoperative with respect to the needles, a pattern drum controlling the operations of the machine and a pattern chain for controlling the operations of the drum, means for operatively connecting the elevating cam with the drum for adjustment of the cam by the latter between the first named alternative position and the said retracted position, and means for operatively connecting the said cam with the chain for adjustment of the :cam by the latter between the said alternative operative positions.

2. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the means for operatively connecting the said cam with the drum and chain comprises a rock shaft and a drum follower lever on said shaft, a second rock shaft having a lost motion connection with the first named shaft providing for independent actuation of the latter by the drum, and means for operatively connecting the second shaft to the chain for intermittent actuation by the latter.

3. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the operative connection between the second shaft and the chain comprises a shaft-actuating element normally traversable in a path remote from the shaft and in which path the element is inoperative to rock the shaft, said element being adjustable into a second path of traverse in which the element is operative in its traverse movement to rock the shaft, means operatively connected with the chain for selective adjustment of the element between said paths, and means for traversing the element.

4. A circular knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein the said means for operatively connecting the element and chain comprises elements projecting detachably in longitudinal series from a side of the chain, a rock lever having one end located in the path of said projecting elements, another arm of said lever having engagement with said cam, a spring tending to resist displacement of the lever by the projecting elements, and a second spring attached to the cam and exerting a lesser force on the lever tending to displace the lever against the pressure of the spring first named, said lever except when shifted by a chain element confining the cam to traverse in the said remote path.

5. A circular knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein the said element takes the form of a longitudinally reciprocatory saber cam, and the shaft has an arm and a pin extending transversely from the arm and engageable by the end of the cam in the longitudinal traverse movement of the latter to effect said displacement by the camming action of said end.

6. A circular knitting machine according to claim 5 wherein the dimensions of the cam end is limited so that when the required displacement of the lever is effected a continued movement of the cam retains the lever in displaced position by engagement of the pin with one longitudinal side of the cam, and wherein further means is provided for adjusting the terminal positions of the cam end with respect to the pin to thereby regulate the dwell of the lever in the displaced position in each reciprocating movement of the cam, said adjusting means constituting the means for regulating the dwell of the elevating cam in the operative position in which it clears the short butt needles.

7. In a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, short butt needles in said cylinder together with needles of longer butt length, cam means cooperative with the short butt needles to form tuck stitches including a cam element adjustable between fully retracted and fully inserted positions and an intermediate position in which the cam clears only the said short butts, a pattern drum controlling the operations of the machine, a pattern chain controlling the movements of the drum, and means for traversing the chain in predetermined timed relation with the cylinder, drum actuated mechanism for adjusting the cam element between the fully retracted and fully inserted positions, and chain actuated mechanism for independently adjus ing the cam element between the fully inserted and intermediate positions.

8. A circular knitting machine according to claim 7 wherein the chain actuated mechanism includes adjustable devices for varying the dwell of the cam element in the intermediate position.

9. In tuck stitch mechanism for circular knitting machaines, a rotary cylinder and needles in said cylinder, a needle cam, a pattern chain and means for traversing the chain in timed relation with the rotary movements of the cylinder, chain actuated means for adjusting said cam between operative and inoperative positions, said means comprising a rock shaft, an arm on said shaft and a transversely projecting pin on said arm, a saber cam, means operating in timed relation with the chain traverse for longitudinally reciprocating the cam selectively in each of two paths, in one of which the terminal end of aisev esb s 12 with the: drum for "displacenien't by separate eamsi'on the latter.

' g 13. Aciicul'ar knitting machineaccording to claim means is provided for 'adjusting the cam with respect a to its reciprocating means to adjust the proximity of said earn an to the'pin'at the initiation and termination of the said working "stroke.

In 'a circular' knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder and needles in said cylinder, apattern chain and means for traversing the chain in timed relation'with the rotary"movement of the cylinder, a pattern drum controlling the operations 'of the machine," and means controlled by the chain for rotating the 'drum, means for feeding yarn to the needles in each of two' stations 'at opposite sides respectively of the cylinder, stitch cards for the needles at each of said stations, tuck-stitch-forniing cam *nieans operatively "associated with each 'of the said stitch cams,- means' actuated by the-drum for adjusting each said cam means'independently of theo ther between a fully retracted'inoper'ative position and a' fully inserted inoperative position, and common meansactuated by'the chain for"adjusting the two cam means between the fully inserted position and an operative intermediate position.

'12. A circular knittingmachine according to claim l1 wherein the drum-actuatedmeans'comprises a pair of rockshafts cohnect'edrespectively to the cam means and each having a follower arm in operative engagement 12 whereinthe chain-actuatedmeans comprises a third rock]shaft"operative1y connected to both'cam means, an actuator forsaid shaft operatively connected with the chain-traversing means, and means actuated by the chain for selectively"operatively connecting and disconhectingthe actuator with and from the shaft.

14; "A circular knitting machine according to claim 13 wherein the said chain-actuated connecting means comprisesadiustmenf'means for selectively regulating the relative timing of 'the' traverse movements of the chain and the accompanying actuations of the shaft.

15. A'circular knitting machine according to claim ll wherein one of said cam meansjincludes two separate cam elements movable as a'unit betweenjthe fully retra'c'ted and fully inserted positions, means'being provided for connecting one-element only of said p'air'to thesa'id common adjtisting meansfor" adjustment individually between the fully insertedand intermediate positions.

16 A knitting machine according to clairnllincluding means for rendering one of said feed means and the associatedituck stitch cam meansl'selecti vely operative and inoperativesfordualxand single feed operation of said machinefrespectively, and means for adjusting the said commonfadjiis'tingm'eansto vary the dwell of the said cam fmeans' in"the said intermediate position'with referenceto cylinder rotation in accordance with the differing 're'quire'ments'of'the single and dual feed operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 'Larkin June 17, 1947 

